Act 14:26-28 | RWP | e4.org | They sailed away to Antioch ( απεπλευσαν εις Αντιοχειαν ). Effective aorist active indicative of αποπλεω , to sail off. They had been gone some eighteen months. They had been committed ( ησαν παραδεδομενο ). Periphrastic past perfect passive of παραδιδωμ , old and common verb. High and serious thoughts filled the hearts of these first returned missionaries as they neared home. The grace of God had been with them. They had fulfilled ( επληρωσαν ) the work to which they had been set apart by the Holy Spirit with the prayers of the Antioch church. They now had a wondrous story to tell.

‏ Acts 14:26-28

They sailed away to Antioch ( απεπλευσαν εις Αντιοχειαν ). Effective aorist active indicative of αποπλεω, to sail off. They had been gone some eighteen months.

They had been committed ( ησαν παραδεδομενο ). Periphrastic past perfect passive of παραδιδωμ, old and common verb. High and serious thoughts filled the hearts of these first returned missionaries as they neared home. The grace of God had been with them. They had fulfilled ( επληρωσαν ) the work to which they had been set apart by the Holy Spirit with the prayers of the Antioch church. They now had a wondrous story to tell.

Gathered the church together ( συναγαγοντες την εκκλησιαν ). Second aorist active participle of συναγω. It "was the first missionary meeting in history" (Furneaux). It was not hard to get the church together when the news spread that Paul and Barnabas had returned. "The suitability of the Gospel to become the religion of the world had not before been put to the test" (Furneaux). Doubtless many "wise-acres" had predicted failure as they did for William Carey and for Adoniram Judson and Luther Rice.

Rehearsed ( ανηγγελλον ). Imperfect active. It was a long story for they had many things to tell of God's dealings "with them" ( μετ' αυτων ) for God had been "with them" all the while as Jesus had said he would be (Mt 28:20, μεθ' υμων ). Paul could recount some of the details given later in 2Co 11.

And how ( κα οτ ). Or "and that" in particular, as the upshot of it all.

He had opened a door of faith unto the Gentiles ( ηνοιξεν τοις εθνεσιν θυραν πιστεως ). Three times in Paul's Epistles (1Co 16:9; 2Co 2:12; Col 4:3) he employed the metaphor of "door," perhaps a reminiscence of the very language of Paul here. This work in Galatia gained a large place in Paul's heart (Ga 4:14f.). The Gentiles now, it was plain, could enter the kingdom of God (verse 22) through the door of faith, not by law or by circumcision or by heathen philosophy or mythology.

And they tarried no little time ( διετριβον δε χρονον ουκ ολιγον ). Imperfect active of διατριβω, old verb to rub hard, to consume, with accusative of extent of time. It was a happy time of fellowship. The experiment entered upon by the church of Antioch was now a pronounced success. It was at the direct command of the Holy Spirit, but they had prayed for the absent missionaries and rejoiced at their signal success. There is no sign of jealousy on the part of Barnabas when Paul returns as the chief hero of the expedition. A new corner has been turned in the history of Christianity. There is a new centre of Christian activity. What will Jerusalem think of the new developments at Antioch? Paul and Barnabas made no report to Jerusalem.